Talibanistan Negotiating the Borders Between Terror, Politics, and Religion

The universe of militant groups in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), near the Afghan border, is far more complex and diverse than is commonly understood. While these groups share many ideological and historical characteristics, the militants have very different backgrounds, tribal affiliations, and strategic concepts that are key to understanding the dynamics of this dangerous, war-torn region-- the main safe haven of al-Qaeda and the gateway to fighting in Afghanistan. This volume of essays, edited by Peter Bergen and Katherine Tiedemann and produced in connection with the New America Foundation, explores the history and current state of the lawless frontier of "Talibanistan," from the groups that occupy its various sub-regions to the effects of counterinsurgency and military intervention (including drone strikes) and the possibility of reconciliation. Contributors include MIT's Sameer Lalwani, NYU's Paul Cruickshank, Afghan journalist Anand Gopal, and Brian Fishman of the New America Foundation.

Introduction - Peter Bergen and Katherine Tiedemann; Overview - Brian Fishman; The Militant Pipeline - Paul Cruickshank; The Relationship between al-Qaeda and the Taliban - Anne Stenersen; Pakistan's Counterinsurgency Strategy - Sameer Lalwani; Drone Strikes in Pakistan - Peter Bergen and Katherine Tiedemann; FATA poll; Political Landscape of the Insurgency - Hassan Abbas; Bajaur - Rahmanullah; Swat - Daud Khan Khattak; North Waziristan - Mansur Khan Mahsud, Anand Gopal, and Brian Fishman; South Waziristan - Mansur Khan Mahsud; Zabul and Uruzgan - Martine van Bijlert; Kandahar - Anand Gopal; Conclusion - Peter Bergen

Peter Bergen is the director of the National Security Studies Program at the New America Foundation and Research Fellow at the NYU Center on Law and Security, as well as National Security Analyst at CNN. He is the author of The Longest War (Free Press, 2011) and The Osama Bin Laden I Know (Free Press, 2006). He lives in Washington, DC.